According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, approximately 405,000 tourist entries were recorded in September 2019, 44% more than September 2018 and 46% more than September 2017.

In the period January – September 2019, 3.297 million tourist entries were recorded, as opposed to 2.917 million in the same period last year, an increase of 13%. (It should be noted that a fuller picture will emerge with the publication of the October statistics, given the fact that the Yomim Tovim typically fall in September and October).

Revenue from incoming tourism in September stood at $581 million (about NIS 2.1 billion) and, since the beginning of the year, at $4.728 billion (about NIS 17 billion).

• 44% increase compared to Sept. 2018; 46% increase on Sept. 2017
• 13% increase in tourist entries Jan-Sept 2019 on same period in 2018, with revenue of $4.728 billion (about NIS 17 billion)

Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin: “September continues the upward trend in incoming tourism with impressive increases and monthly records broken. We are marketing Israel around the world in line with our innovative and market-focused strategy, and we are seeing the results. We continue to develop new markets, while working to maintain traditional markets. In recent years, tourism has become an engine for economic growth and improves our image around the world and I welcome that.”

• 356,500 tourist entries were by air, 40% more than September 2018 and 41% more than September 2017
• 48 400 tourists arrived via the land crossings, 78% more than September 2018 and 84% more than September 2017
• 31,500 day visitors arrived in September 2019, as opposed to 19,500 in September 2018 and 21,600 in September 2017.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)